Abstract: A negative electrode or a separator for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes an iron cyanide complex. The iron cyanide complex is, for example, at least one selected from the group consisting of ferrocyanide and ferricyanide. The ferrocyanide is, for example, at least one selected from the group consisting of potassium ferrocyanide, sodium ferrocyanide, calcium ferrocyanide, and ammonium ferrocyanide. The ferricyanide is, for example, at least one selected from the group consisting of potassium ferricyanide, sodium ferricyanide, calcium ferricyanide, and ammonium ferricyanide.

Abstract: A process for measuring the lamina size distribution comprises the steps of uniformly spreading sampled laminae over a conveyor and transporting the same; image-forming the conveyed lamina at a detection region having a given area by using a television camera each time when the lamina moves by a length corresponding to that of the detection region; storing in a memory binary video data which are converted from the video signal obtained by the image-forming; processing the stored video data to encircle continuous ones of the binary data which correspond to the lamina with a rectangular frame; counting the number of continuous ones of the binary data; converting the continuous ones of the binary data in the frame into the other ones binary data after counting; successively carrying out the same processing of different continuous ones of binary data to calculate the size of respective laminae; and measuring the distribution of the lamina size upon the basis of the calculation results.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying and conditioning tobacco leaves, including a heater for heating conditioning air for conditioning tobacco leaves after drying, a temperature controller for controlling the heater so that the temperature of the conditioning air becomes a preset temperature, an atomized water sprayer for cooling the conditioning air fed to the heater, a humidifier for humidifying the conditioning air, and a humidity controller for detecting the moisture content of the tobacco leaves after drying and conditioning and controlling the humidifier so that the moisture content of the tobacco leaves becomes a target moisture content. The humidity controller is so constructed as to control the humidifier on the basis of a wet-bulb temperature. Saving of heat energy can be attained, and because a cooling chamber is not needed, the apparatus can be made compact and it becomes easier to stabilize a target moisture content.

Abstract: An apparatus for air drying tobacco leaves is provided. The apparatus comprises a vertical hopper section disposed beneath the discharge end of a tobacco leaf supply conveyor, an air-permeable conveyor to transport supplied tobacco leaves oriented in parallel to a direction of air flow, a drying chamber provided to cover the air-permeable conveyor, drying air circulating means, tobacco leaf layer level sensors, and means for controlling the rate of supply of tobacco leaves according to the signals provided from said sensors. The apparatus can obtain a good drying efficiency for air drying tobacco leaves.